PHILADELPHIA – U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain announced today that he has established an Affirmative Civil Enforcement (“ACE”) Strike Force within the Office’s Civil Division.

The ACE Strike Force will investigate and, when necessary, file lawsuits to prosecute fraud and abuse against government programs, including healthcare and procurement fraud, enforce federal civil rights statutes, and combat the opioid crisis. It will work closely with criminal prosecutors to coordinate civil and criminal investigations where appropriate. The ACE Strike Force will investigate cases arising from a number of sources, including those brought under the quitam, or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act, which allow private citizens to bring civil actions on behalf of the United States and share in any recovery.

“We have a deep bench of talented Civil attorneys who all contribute to the successful prosecution of affirmative civil enforcement and will continue to do so,” said U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain. “But with the ACE Strike Force, we will now have additional firepower to focus on these critical matters.”

“The ACE Strike Force will continue the Civil Division’s long history of successfully combating fraud and enforcing important federal laws through civil investigations and actions,” said Civil Division Chief Gregory B. David.

Five Civil Assistant U.S. Attorneys comprise the initial ACE Strike Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Crutchlow will serve as the team leader. The ACE Strike Force will be supervised by Deputy Civil Chief Charlene Keller Fullmer and Civil Chief Gregory B. David.